Thursday, August 06, 2009

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

In store for you today: A few more shots from Minneapolis (above, the Gold Medal Flour mill and Stone Arch bridge), some interesting agricultural products (below), and then an actual, bona fide sweater that has been completed by me. All of this will be coming your way assuming that you don't subscribe to a certain bockety blog reader that has suddenly refused to pick up my feed. Yes, for the last few weeks I have been screaming into the Bloglines void as it has been plugging its ears, making loud 'I-can't-hear-you' noises and pretending I don't exist. Humph. Was it the knitted willy warmer? My abrupt detour into Shawl-land? A lack of actual pertinent content? Whatevs, Bloglines. Google Reader will be smiting your ass any day now...

The above grapes are from my friend Phil's grape arbor in Star Valley. Let me tell you that they were the essence of grape. Fragrant, perfume-y, grape to the power of 10--almost unbelievably so. The glass you see is of actual grape juice. Sad Alzheimer's footnote: my dad couldn't smell the juice at all because many suffering from his condition completely lose their sense of smell.

The big top you see above belongs to the Cirque du Soleil. Let me officially apologize to everyone who has raved about these performances as while you were talking, I was secretly judging and even rejecting you a little. But you were right! I'm a jackass--it was a stupendous show.

While on my trip I was also able to complete a project I began a month earlier--Rusted Root. I saw my mom eying it and knew that she had to have it. Happy Birthday, mom!

The Specs:Pattern: Rusted Root by the Zephyr GirlsYarn: Rowan Calmer 476, exactly 6.Needles: Size 8, which was larger than called for. I wanted some drape in this fabric and it's what I got.Mods: I made damn sure to do 14 lace repeats. You better believe I was zooming in and counting them on Ravelry FOs! I also opted out of the cap sleeve version as I fear them.Time: Mid-June to the end of July, off and on.This pattern is a classic Zephyr girls production: top-down raglan construction, cute details that keep the pattern interesting, and exceedingly clear instructions. Calmer is a true pleasure and I recommend it for all your warm weather needs. It had been hanging around in my stash for quite a while and I am sad to say goodbye to my old friend...but luckily while I able to pick up a new Rowan pal that is making a huge hit. I was even told by the LYS employee that I was the first person to buy it as it had just arrived--now you KNOW that sealed the deal, right? Introducing....

Felted Tweed Aran! Yes, our favorite Rowan yarn in a gauge that would actually want to make a sweater out of. I am so excited, I think this just moved to the top of the Minimalist Cardigan queue...

I'm so glad you linked to your Willie Warmer post again! I've been trying for ages to remember who posted that story. It still makes me laugh til I pee. I think the bell on the end has something to do with it. ;)

I do believe we were just a few footsteps off from each other in visiting the sites of Minneapolis, especially loving that Mill City renewed area (hubby's hometown, my college town). What we thought was going to be a draining visit to family ended up a fine vacation.Looks like for you, too.Your Rusted Root is the first one I've really liked. May need to queue it....

Well, that explains it! How dare you Blogger to deprive me of my regular dose of hilarious knitting insanity.

But then again, I did notice that my desire to acquire new, fantabo yarn did decrease significantly while I was sans-ADD. Now I just want to run out in the streets in my underwear waving my Visa shouting "ROWAN FELTED ARAN TWEEEEEEEEEED"